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berdagon posted an update
Every event has its own ecosystem.
Whether intentional or not, shaped by rules or player culture, each event forms a natural interplay. How players relate to one another, how they respond to change, how the cycle of the story progresses.
De Kentering, a Dutch larp organized by Pickle Larp, has a particularly strong ecosystem. It’s a world of intrigue, gossip, and betrayal—where aristocrats fight tooth and nail for power, driven by vision, self-interest, and impulse. I really enjoy this event.
My first instinct was to conform to the ‘norm’: to play a character with some level of power, selfish ambition, and a shaky moral compass. To be a ‘predator’ myself. I don’t like being ‘prey’—always at the mercy of someone else’s ambition. At the very least, I want to stand on equal footing in the game.
But in conversation with the organizers, I discovered a far more interesting niche: a watering hole.
Eventually, at De Kentering, I played a priest. A therapist who, even out-of-character, guarantees that everything said to him is kept in confidence. A man who helps others with self-discovery, who encourages people to act in ways that feel ‘aligned with the Self.’
And to my great satisfaction, I feel that this role had a far greater impact on the ecosystem of De Kentering than if I’d played a predator. The sharp-edged characters could come to me to be their true selves for a moment, to show their inner humanity. Like predators at a watering hole, they could then return to the hunt, renewed. It reinforced my role as a confidant—and showed that even the schemers are more than just ‘hungry beasts.’
I’m really curious how others experience this. If you view your event as an ecosystem, what is your role within it?
(Picture by Studio.Irrisanne)
